KEVIN D. ROBERTS/Register Citizen
Torrington's Brittany Anderson rips a single during Wednesday night's Naugatuck Valley League game against Wolcott at Wolcott High School. The Lady Raiders won 9-0. Anderson had two hits and scored three runs for Torrington.

WOLCOTT -- The Torrington softball team already has a dominant pitcher in sophomore left-hander Sydney Matzko.

If the Lady Raiders continue to hit like they did on Wednesday night against Wolcott, they could reach a whole new level of scary.

Torrington pounded out 12 hits in a 9-0 Naugatuck Valley League win at Wolcott High School over a good Eagle team. The Raiders also made just one error in the field, and that was well after the game had been decided. Torrington improved to 11-2 with the win while Wolcott dropped to 9-4.

Wednesday was all about the offense. Matzko went 4-for-4 with two doubles, five RBI and a run scored to lead the way, but she had plenty of help. Freshman catcher Marissa Morris was 2-for-4 with two RBI while Mollie Bartles was 2-for-4 with a run batted in. Leadoff batter Brittany Anderson added two hits and three runs scored. Nicole Jamieson and Brittany Young each scored twice while Alexa Potter added a booming double to the left center field fence.

Morris pointed out another key for the Raiders, which has been jumping on an opponent early. THS blasted three home runs, including two by Matzko, and two triples in a 15-0 win over Derby on Monday. Derby entered that game with a five-game winning streak.

"We're bringing the intensity early in the game," Morris said.

Wolcott brought a five-game winning streak of its own into Wednesday's game, but Torrington scored first. The Raiders tallied two runs in the top of the third inning on a two-run double by Matzko, then tacked on two more in the fifth. Matzko had an RBI single in the frame while Morris chipped in the first of her two RBI singles.

Leading 4-0 in the fifth, Torrington put the game away. Potter doubled, then came around to score on a wild pitch, 5-0. After an out, Young reached on a walk. Anderson reached on an error, then Jamieson singled to load the bases. Matzko punched a single to center field to score Young and Anderson for a 7-0 advantage. Morris and Bartles followed with RBI singles to make it 9-0.

With Matzko pitching her usual stellar game (0 runs, 2 hits, 16 strikeouts, 2 walks), the Eagles didn't have a chance, even before the Raiders tacked the runs on. Musselman realizes the potential that her team has.

"Continue to hit the ball," Musselman said. "[Matzko] doesn't allow much to happen, for them offensively. We make the plays in the field, life is good."

"It shows the potential that we have," Matzko said.

Torrington was expecting a tough game against Wolcott coming in.

"We knew we had to work hard," Morris said.

In the first two innings, the Raiders left three runners on base, but Matzko kept the Eagles at bay, allowing just a bunt single to go along with five strikeouts.

A leadoff walk for Young got Torrington going in the third. Anderson reached on an error, then Jamieson moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Matzko lofted a fly ball toward right center that was just out of reach of Wolcott center fielder Alyssa Perazella's dive. Young and Anderson scored to make it 2-0. Morris lined out sharply to right field to end the inning, her second well-hit out in two at bats. Morris made sure the Eagles weren't so lucky in her last two at bats. Matzko appreciated the run support.

"It's a nice cushion," Matzko said. "I wasn't expecting it."

After the first two innings, Torrington was able to get a read on Wolcott pitcher Kayla DePara.

"Timed it right," Morris said.

DePara's cause wasn't helped when she got hit by a Matzko pitch on her hand on a swing. The Eagles also made four errors behind DePara and reliever Candace Philippi. Musselman said that the solid contact by the Raiders was a reason why the errors happened.

Musselman is hoping for more offense from her team on Friday, when Torrington hosts Holy Cross in a big NVL Copper Division game.

"Love the offense," Musselman said. "I'll take this all day, and I just, like I said, hope they bring it on Friday."